Vermont Watchman And State Journal

It has become common to regard politics
as a ceaseless jargon, carried on with more
sound than sense, more zeal than knowledge.
The pious often shun it for a more promising
sphere of usefulness; the scholar regards it
as below the dignity of his high profession;
and thus it is left to demagogues who have
more policy than principle, more words than
works. Such a sentiment is fundamentally
wrong. All this noise and parade which is
objectionable, is simply incidental—straws
which indicate the direction of the wind, and
not the wind itself; and even now, O Man
of Mind, while you are looking indifferently
on, in this very struggle principles are at
work, all silent and unseen around you, which
shall embody in outward form the very good
you are seeking for, or strike at the root of
your most cherished right!

This is an age when thoughts and principles make the law, and not kings nor commons. The power of public opinion, whose
lever is the press, can never be over-estimated. Its influence is upon immaterial and
not material things,—working upon the inner and not the external man. Yet the living institutions which surround you, which
give you the rights of citizenship and the
freedom of speech, and which elevates the
individual to the highest dignity of manhood,
are but the realization of printed thoughts.
In a philosopher's cell, ages ago, came forth
the great idea. It shone like a star above
the darkness of despotism and brutal force.
It was followed by a small but constantly increasing number with untiring energy, till
at last, it was wrought out in substantial
forms. Thus the paradox of the last age is
the truism of this. 'The thoughts of yester-
day are the implements of to-day. The im-
material spirit which lurked in the written
line two thousand years ago, now surrounds
you to enrich and ennoble as a material
blessing. The idea of Columbus has given
us a new world: the wisdom of Solon, a wise
law: the idea of Luther, a pure church.
The idea of Watt has changed the relations
of commerce; the idea of Franklin has given
new life to every department of human affairs; and now is being conceived the
thought, or being formed the public sentiment, which shall make glorious or ignoble
the future—And although you stand in the
full blaze of intelligence, yet most carefully
should you watch the pulse of public opinion lest through a thousand arteries circulate the seeds of disease,—lest on the soil of
Freedom be sown the Dragon's teeth which
shall spring up armed men!

Might once made right. That was an
outward warfare which every one could see.
—Now right makes might,—is it less plain?
—The mode of warfare has changed; yet
should we be less acquainted with its mode
of operation? The thinker ever precedes
the actor. The thought has ever been battled unto the substance. Yet the noise of the
conflict, and the thousand senseless accompaniments which attended the slow, wavering progress of humanity, often shut out
from the superficial observer the real object
the high principle which occasions it. Three
hundred years ago all Europe resounded with
the conflict of an idea put forth by Luther.
Beneath the smoke the nations were running to and fro with increase of knowledge; yet
few could see the points of compass. Now,
stands out the great truth, bright and secure
is the noon day sun.

To day it is all commotion about an idea concerning the divine right of kings penned by a poor and despised
student. In an hundred years, it shall stand
the conceded truth of a world: while in the
conflict many will despair, many think it a
war of words and turn away.

With the subject thus presented, is there
any doubt concerning the importance of the
politics of to-day? It is the medium by
which political wisdom is embodied in actual
Institutions. As these institutions favor one place or class, so public sentiment has
no one head, but the whole people. Each
State, each County, each Town, has its voice.
If a man neglects to act to day, he may re-
pine at the defeat of his principles to morrow through the very opinions formed by his in-
activity. Seventy-five years ago all was
thick darkness through the Thirteen States.
There was doubt, and fear, and despair.—
Yet above the cloud, fair and beautiful in its
proportions, towered the ideal Republic.—
To day its realized grandeur lifts its battle-
ments to heaven, the proudest work of human genius. Listless man! its future is in
your keeping. It is for you to keep beyond
the Rubicon the ambitious Caesar.—to de-
stro the enervating banquets of a Belshazzar, lest mene, mene, tekel, upharsin be written on its walls!

The smoke of the Revolution has died a-
way, and in the march of progress another
question comes before the American people.
Really, there is but one. We are surrounded by the bustle and excitement of conflict:
yet, above all the idea of Human Right as
opposed to Slavery, stands like a pillar of
fire. The voice of conscience, the dictates of
reason, and the instincts of humanity, in the
clear light of Heaven, all cry out against the
wrong. Yet, blinded by party strife, men
are doubtful. Says one: "You have been
engaged in the struggle for years, and what
good has been done? The South is maddened; and bitterness and fanaticism is the
result." Why, sir, when was a great good
ever done to the race without a conflict?
Was it in the days of Luther? of Cromwell?
of Wilberforce? Before the morning light
does there not always come a deeper darkness? Did error ever concede an inch save
to the superior power of truth? Says another:—It will dissolve the Union?" Can
you not, sir, hold the standard aloft with one hand and strike the death-blow to Slavery Extension with the other? The Union is a
living truth. If its friends are true it must
stand. Slavery is the shadow of old Might,
and must be divorced. Why fear the result
of noble, manly action! When Paul reasoned before Felix of temperance, righteousness, and judgement to come, was it Paul, or
Felix who trembled? You say it is not done in a sober, candid way. Very true, in many
cases. The mass are not Philip Sidneys, but
add one in yourself and the cause will be
strengthened—Thus reads the political lesson for to-day. To him who is not lost in
party or prejudice on the one hand, nor is
cynical or indifferent on the other, the realization of the great idea of Human Right is
the present duty. Who will remain idle
when such interests are at stake? The ac-
cumulative testimony of two thousand years
in behalf of truth appeals to your manhood.
and asks for the expression of an enlightened
opinion.

He is the freeman whom the truth makes
free. Citizens of Vermont! there is a meaning and a power in those resolutions passed at the State Convention at Burlington.
What candid thinking man will bring one
reason save party and prejudice why he should not place himself firmly upon that platform? It is the side of Truth—you feel it; the side
of Right, and hence the Freeman's side.—
Caledonia.